Anna Karenina

In Bernard Rose's 1997 adaptation, a married woman from Russia's elite world travels toward Moscow and then back to St Petersburg, where a chance encounter unsettles the balance between duty and desire. Anna Karenina, wife of the stern official Karenin, finds herself drawn to a handsome cavalry officer, Vronsky, and the spark of their attraction threatens to upend the rigid codes that govern public life. The story follows how a single irresistible attraction becomes a test of reputation, marriage, and personal happiness amid a society that polices a woman's choices with sharp scrutiny. The film foregrounds inner conflict over social spectacle without surrendering its period flavor. The story also circles Anna's social circle, showing how rumor and reputation color private acts and the expectations placed on women in high society.

Released in 1997, the Bernard Rose film adapts Tolstoy's iconic novel for the screen. Sophie Marceau stars as Anna opposite Sean Bean's Vronsky, with Alfred Molina as Levin and Mia Kirshner as Kitty; the production carried a roughly 35 million budget.

The film offers a polished take on a classic tale, emphasizing character psychology and visual grandeur. Marceau's portrayal brings intensity to Anna, while the sumptuous costume design and set pieces evoke a late imperial mood. The adaptation sparked renewed interest in Tolstoy's heroine within late 90s cinema.

Critics offered a mixed verdict, praising performances, atmosphere, and faithful mood while noting slower pacing in parts. The core themes remain sharp: the tension between personal longing and social duty, the scrutiny faced by women in a rigid aristocracy, and the price of pursuing happiness when reputation hangs over every choice. The film leans into interior drama rather than melodrama, inviting viewers to judge characters through their private struggles as much as through public appearances.

Awards: The film did not receive major nominations; a few regional critics groups recognized aspects of the cast and design. It earned praise for Sophie Marceau's portrayal and the visual richness, but those accolades remained modest and the film did not become a major awards contender.